In this year’s release of Henry Danger: The Movie, Glee Dango played Missy Martin / Superfan, which saw her work alongside Jace Norman, who reprised his role of Henry Danger from the Nickelodeon series, and the film premiered on Nickelodeon and Paramount+. Glee plays the co-lead character of Julie Graham-Chang in Popularity Papers, starring opposite Mia Bella as Olivia Goldblatt, and last year, she played Nora in Ellie O’Brien’s short film The Truth About Church Club. Amongst Glee’s screen roles, she played Blake in the TV movie Maybe It’s You, and she joined Series 3 of Odd Squad as Esmerelda Kim, before her character became Agent Osmerelda. Also a voice actor, Glee voices Sandy in Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go, with her other projects including the 2024 Peacock reboot of Caillou as Sarah, numerous episodes of Blue’s Clues & You, and towards the start of her career, she voiced William in Pikwik Pack. We spoke with Glee about playing Missy Martin / Superfan in this year’s Henry Danger: The Movie, her co-lead role of Julie Graham-Chang in Popularity Papers, joining the cast of Odd Squad in Series 3 and her voice work including Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go.

How much did you know about the Nickelodeon series Henry Danger before auditioning for the recent release of Henry Danger: The Movie and how did you feel finding out you’d be joining the franchise as Missy Martin / Superfan?

I’d seen clips of the show online and I knew it was very popular, but when the show came out I was only a few years old, so I was more interested in cartoons like Dora the Explorer.

I got the news that Henry Danger wanted me to come to LA for a screen test, and they sent me the full script while I was on tour with the Mini Pop Kids across North America. After one of our shows, my dad and I read through the entire screenplay and I was all-in. It was an amazing story which took place in a multi-verse, which of course meant I would get lots of different wardrobe and location changes! My dad and I were cracking up non-stop, not only because of the script, but the little writers notes in the script as well, which told us this was going to be a great team to work with!

When I actually got the news that I got the role, my parents surprised me with a cinnamon bun with a candle in it. I was a bit shocked, to be honest, as we just started choreography season and my first thought was that I would not be able to compete in dance that year. It was a little bittersweet as I was really looking forward to competing with my dance team. Then I got a call from the director, Joe Menendez, where he took me through his vision for the film, and his love and energy for this project was undeniable. That’s when it really hit that I would be joining an amazing franchise, in an amazingly fun movie, with the most amazing people and I couldn’t be any more excited for such an amazing opportunity. I guess you could say it was pretty amazing.

Can you tell us about your character and what was she like to play?

Missy is smart, determined, knows what she wants and how to get it done, but I also think she’s very caring and all the things she’s doing is to protect her little sister. I think she loves the idea of fighting crime with Kid Danger, who wouldn’t? But deep down she’s also just a kid who wants to feel safe and help the people she loves. The cast was so supportive which made it easy for me to really open up and bring myself to this character, so I think there is a lot of me on screen in this movie which made it extra special for me.

What was it like meeting and working alongside the rest of the cast, which includes Jace Norman reprising his role of Henry Hart?

They were so welcoming and open, I was actually a little shocked. Of course I was nervous to be working with such an amazing (have I used this adjective yet?) legacy cast, but on my first day for the table read, Frankie Grande walked in, I don’t think he knew who I was at all, but he just gave me the biggest hug, and from there the days just got better. Ella Anderson was really great taking me under her wing as she had grown up on TV and it was like having a big sister on set. Michael D. Cohen was just the most down to earth friend, and being able to just take walks between shooting and chat with someone of his experience through all the seasons and spin-offs was invaluable. Sean was so funny and he always helped keep us energised and laughing on set. In this movie, Jace was no longer the sidekick but he’s a real superhero, and on set I could feel right away that he had taken on a much larger role in this whole production as well. I was inspired by how he handled himself and how great an actor he was to work with in front of the camera, but he was still able to kick around a hacky sack or play with me on the teeter-totters between takes. For someone so accomplished, I admired how down to earth Jace was with me, and he truly made it a memorable experience.

How did you find the experience on set of Henry Danger: The Movie and what did you enjoy most about filming?

It felt like I was joining this tight-knit family who all worked together like a well-oiled machine. I was lucky they accepted me so quickly, as if I had always been part of that family. Other than just being able to work with this cast, I think what made this really enjoyable was that there was a really clear vision of what they wanted this movie to be, and even before we started filming, Joe Menendez organised cast viewings of old movies to inspire and ground us all into his vision. So just being able to see the movie develop from the amazing script that Chris Nowak and Jake Farrow put together, to style choices Joe made in his vision and storyboards, the scenework with the cast, and all the post-production including scoring, gave me a unique view of the movie-making process which made it really enjoyable.

How did you feel when the film premiered on Nickelodeon/Paramount+ and what was it like watching it for the first time?

To be honest, it was like a dream. I was so anxious for the release on Paramount+, so when it came out and I learned it had shot up to first position on the US viewing chart, I was so proud to have been a part of it.

Watching it for the first time with all the post-production completed, and being able to see and hear the movie as a complete piece, I was really in awe of how good it turned out. We had a lot of fun making the movie and seeing it turn out so well made me really excited to share it with my friends and family.

You played co-lead character Julie Graham-Chang in Popularity Papers, what was the series like to be part of?

It was what I wish every kid’s experience in middle school could have been like. Although Mia Bella and I are fortunate enough to be listed as co-leads for this show, it really was an ensemble cast. We had so many great recurring cast members on the show like my two on-screen fathers, Michael Chan and Chris Jacot, Mia’s on-screen family with Naomi Sneickus and Anna Mirodin, and a bunch of other great young actors like Millie Davis, who I previously worked with before and admired.

How was it getting into character as Julie and filming with your co-star Mia Bella as Lydia Goldblatt?

Filming with Mia Bella was such a fun experience. We had followed each other on Instagram for a while, but when we learned we would be doing a chemistry read together, things really just clicked, and we became real life BFFs. Trying to get into the role of Julie was a little harder. When I first read the role, my first reaction was to tell my parents the character was so unlike me, that I didn’t know if I would be comfortable playing her. In developing her character, I could really see more and more similarities and how Julie really was a mirror for how so many young middle school students feel and I started to fall in love with her.

Last year, you played Nora in Ellie O’Brien’s short film The Truth About Church Club, can you tell us about this?

This project came to me through my agent, Shari Quallenberg, who also represented Ellie O’Brien. I learned that Ellie was a child actress herself and now studying at Sheridan College Film School. After having a chance to speak to Ellie about the short film, we had a lot in common and became fast friends, and it was obvious she was passionate about making this film so I was happy to jump on board. It also gave 13-year-old me a chance to spend some time on a college campus and get a feel for film school from all the people working on it. For me, it was just a quick few days of shooting, but for Ellie it was something she brought to life from the very first draft of the script, and I was so privileged to get a chance to learn through her experiences. I’ll look forward to when I can put my own film together as well!

What was it like playing Blake in the TV movie Maybe It’s You?

This was the first film project I did which wasn’t targeted towards kids, and I got to work with a full cast of adults. It was a great experience for me to meet and interact with more mature actors as my character, Blake, was herself an overly mature tween. Acting in children’s programmes is a lot of fun, and you get to pretend you’re in cool and interesting scenarios, but I found being exposed to this project help me learn to be more grounded in my own acting.

How was it joining the cast of Odd Squad in Series 3 as Agent Osmerelda and what are some of your favourite memories from working on the show?

I actually joined Odd Squad earlier in Season 3 as Esmeralda Kim, who was written as a running joke and showed up periodically to help, but who was always too busy to actually contribute, so I was already familiar with the show and some of the cast, who were a great bunch.

When I learned my character was being promoted to a full agent, I was ecstatic. For a young actor, this was one of the dream shows to be cast on, as it was such a great kid-centric programme with lots of comedy, cool special effects, monsters and lots of spy gear!

What I remember most about being on Odd Squad was how incredible the production company, Sinking Ship, was to work with. They were great at working with kids and they worked hard to make sure we had time for our school studies, healthy food breaks, and also enough time to just let us be kids and have fun. It was also my first major recurring role, so it’s where I got to really build connections and learn more about everyone on set, from the hair and makeup people, to the craft food, to costumes and set designers, also the directors, writers and showrunners. They all became my second family for months and I loved being there every day. It’s where I really started to see how much it takes to put something like that together, and I could see there were so many opportunities in the future for me to learn and explore the industry.

Some memories were when we got to do things like shoot at Ripley’s Aquarium overnight when all the guests were gone so we had the whole place to ourselves. It was my first overnight shoot, so as a little kid staying up past midnight I was super excited… and a little goofy. I also remember doing my first ‘stunts’ and getting dance choreography put into the show, which was so much fun! Of course, there was also the time Agent Osmerelda was invited to the White House for the Easter Egg Roll as the PBS Kids correspondent, which I will never forget. I got to bring my whole family inside the White House and have breakfast with the president along with Olympic medallists and amazing actresses like The Little Mermaid and stars of Sesame Street!

My favourite memory though must be when we wrapped shooting for the season. Don’t get me wrong, we were all a blubbering mess and everyone was crying, but through all the tears, you could tell everyone was so happy and proud to have been a part of the show. I couldn’t believe that we were actually ‘working’ all those past months and everyone was sad to see it end. I know a lot of people cry that they have to go to work, so being a part of something where everyone was so committed and passionate that they didn’t want it to end was really something unique and made me even more determined to continue acting, and pursue an artistic future.

As a voiceover actor, you voice Sandy in Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go, how has it been taking on the character over the years?

It honestly gets harder and harder each year as my voice gets deeper but Sandy remains timeless, but she was such a fun character to play, and she honestly couldn’t be any cuter. I started recording Sandy in studio, but with COVID we had to transition to recording from home and doing things remotely. Being remote made it more difficult without people in the room with you, but at the time I know everyone was just happy to be able to work. Sandy was actually the first character I did which got her own toy! My dad was so excited that he went out and purchased it as soon as it became available, and I still have her sitting on my desk so I see her every day.

What is it like voicing a regular character in Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go, and what does a typical day in the recording studio look like for you for this role?

Animated roles are always fun because you never really know what your character will get up to in each new episode. For some episodes where Sandy was featured, I would get the full episode script, but for some I would just get a bunch of lines without a lot of context. For me, it’s a lot of fun because without the other actors to react off of I can just have fun trying different takes and really get creative with my acting. I’m sure it’s much harder for the voice director, Dee Shipley, to keep everyone’s performances coordinated! Dee was always amazing to work with as she was great at keeping the whole team motivated and energised. I have to admit, voiceover work is usually a lot less tiring, and you can get really silly as no one is going to see you throw yourself into your character.

In the 2024 Peacock reboot of Caillou, you voiced Sarah, how was this?

It was a nice challenge as I had to really put my voice to the test to sound similar as the original character but still bring some new life into the reboot. She was also sick in one of the episodes so I had to do things like covering my nose to sound stuffy, and fake sneeze and cough… which is actually harder than you would think to make sound authentic.

What was it like filming for numerous episodes of Blue’s Clues & You?

As it was one of my first voiceover experiences, and I was very young when I did this, I just thought it was so cool to be able to play a cute little orange kitten. When you’re that young, everything was new and exciting and now when look back at those episodes I can remember how much fun I had in the studio and why I’m still doing voiceover today.

Towards the start of your career, you voiced William in Pikwik Pack, what do you remember most from your time recording for the series?

What I remember most about my experience with Pikwik Pack was actually the audition process I went through. I had come in to audition for another role, but after they heard my read they asked if I would do a cold read of a role for a little male character, William. I, of course, agreed to try, and they gave me the script to review in the waiting room for about five minutes before I went right back into the audition room. I was so young and really had only started reading at that time so it was a bit intimidating to try and pick up a new script so quickly, so my dad went through it with me in the waiting room and I think he was more nervous than I was! I guess they liked it, because I got the part!

How did you get into on-screen acting and voiceover work and had you always known you wanted a career in both?

My parents always tried to keep the doors open for me to try anything I wanted in the arts while I was young, whether that was dance, singing, or acting. I was lucky enough to attend CharACTORS Theatre Troupe one summer and I just had a blast there learning to perform on stage. That lead to an introduction to my current agent, Shari Quallenberg at AMI. At that time, I really didn’t have any goals or expectations, I just thought it was fun to perform for my parents. Noelle Jenkinson, the voice partner at AMI, added me to her roster as well and got me started in voiceover work while Shari focused on my film and TV roles. Just going back through all the experiences I’ve had so far, I think I have been very fortunate that I’ve had so many good experiences in the roles that I booked with AMI that it helped me grow a love and appreciation for the industry. Now I can say that I look forward to continuing in both!

What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch?

I think being an actor has made me very open to watching a lot of very different types of content. There’s been so many films I loved watching with my family, but I think I am most drawn towards character-driven stories like Good Will Hunting, 8 Mile or Gifted. My all-time favourite would have to be the Marvel series, Loki, as I absolutely love his character arc through the series from a selfish troublemaker to altruistic savour of the entire timeline! WandaVision and Agatha All Along were also amazing and rank up there along with Arcane as some of my favourites. Every now and then I like to just watch something funny as well like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which has kept me entertained on many evenings.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Ever since I was very small I could not stop moving, so I think that’s why I gravitate towards dance, which I have been doing since I was 18 months old. Dance is my exercise, relaxation, meditation, and creative outlet all rolled up into one. I spend more time with my studio and dance family at Elite Danceworx than I do at my actual home, and I love the opportunity to get away for competitions with my teammates.

Do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about and what are you hoping this year brings for you?

With the release of Henry Danger: The Movie earlier this year, I had a chance to look back and realised I have spent more than half of my life in front of the camera so far! While I love acting very much and hope to have more opportunities to do so in the future, I also had the chance to learn from many amazing people behind the camera who actually bring the stories to life. From directing, writing, showrunning, and composing, there is so much creativity on a set that I’ve started to dive into my own writing and compositions as well. I’m working on my first original song along with Melanie Doan and Creighton Doan, who I met while filming Ukulele U, and I finished writing my first short story. I hope to have the chance to share some of my own creations with the world! So look forward for more information on these as I keep working to develop them!

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